Wig dryer

ABSTRACT

A wig dryer comprising a blower-heater unit, a wig supporting block having an air chamber therein and apertures through which the air chamber communicates with the outside of the block, a telescopic flue assembly for connecting the air chamber with the blower-heater unit, a hood having the inner shell perforated with apertures and adapted to cover the wig supporting block, another telescopic flue assembly for connecting the air chamber provided in the hood with the blow-heater unit, wherein the flue assemblies are made alternatively to communicate with the blowheater unit thereby to dry a wet wig put on the block and set the hair of a wig.

United States Patent 1 1 Sumino 1 51 Sept. 11, 1973 [5 WIG DRYER 3,501,847 3 1970 Sanford et al.'. 34 103 3,503,138 3/l970 Fuchs et al. 34/99 [75 lnventor. Shou l Summo, M1zuh 3,320,681 5/1967 Watlington 34/99 Nagoya-Shh Japan 3,498,510 3/1970 Johnson 223 66 x [73] Assignee: IIgothher lifoglilo Kabusthikj Kaisha, FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS agoya's 1,175,940 1 1970 Great Britain 34 103 [22] Filed: Dec. 22, 1971 21 pp NO 21 7 5 Primary Examiner-John .l. Camby Assistant ExaminerJames C. Yeung Attorriey- Robert D. Flynn, Leonard Holtz et a]. [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Apr. 10, l97l Japan Apr. 10, 1971 Japan... 46/27426 I h Apr. 10, 1971 Japan 46/27427 A dryer comprlsmg blmvwheate' a "8 Apr, 10 1971 Japan 46/27428 Pmfing [310 having Chamber therein and apertures through which the air chamber communicates 52 us. (:1 34/103, 34/90, 34/99, with the Outside of block, a telescopic flue assembly 34/239 for connecting the air chamber with the blower-heater [51] Int. Cl A45d 20/24 unit, a hood having the inner shell Perforated with [58] Field of Search 34/90, 91, 99 101, ertures and adapted to cover the Wig supPorting b10019 34/103 239; 132/9. 223/66, 67 another telescopic flue assembly for connecting the air chamber provided in the hood-with the blow-heater [56] References Cited unit, wherein the flue assemblies are made alternatively UNITED STATES PATENTS to communicate with the blow-heater unit thereby to 3 310 267 3/1967 K h] 223/66 X dry a wet wig put on the block and set the hair of a wig.

0e er 3,606,108 9/1971 Baugh et al 223/66 X 10 Claims, 17 Drawing Figures PATENIED St?! I I8?! sum 1 or 9 PATENTED SEP l I I975 sum 2 or 9 FIG.2

PAIENTEUSEP? SHEET '4 OF 9 FIG.

PATENTEUSEH I an SHEET 5 OF 9 FIG. 6

DUI] EIDEI [IUD DI] I] 49 cm nun nun nun FIG. 8

PATENTED SEN I I873 SHEET 6 BF 9 PAIENIEDSEPI 1 m5 3'. 757. 429

sum 7 or 9 5 a H N: a 3.. m m: o: m9 3. ,g ml: om. m3 ll r: m 0mm; m: 3. mm. 9 0 g 8. SN. |l. o 0 NE 89 mm. g SE 31 08 0 N! o 0Q o 0 8, my 5 mi mm o o SS 84 o o v o fim o wl. O0 o a. 59 f DEE EEEUEV 55E 1 W16 DRYER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a wig dryer, and more particularly to a wig dryer for drying a wet wig and setting the hair of a wig.

Known to date are a wig dryer which supplies hot air from the interior of a wig supporting block thereby to dry a wet wig placed on said block and another type of dryer for setting the hair of a wig by placing a hood thereon.

Heretofore, however, there has not been available such a wig dryer as is capable of both drying a wet wig from inside and setting the hair of a wig. Nor has there been known a self-contained portable wig dryer having various parts received in a space defined between the hood and base and moreover capable of drying and setting human hair, if necessary.

It is accordingly the object of this invention to provide a wig dryer capable of both drying a washed wig and setting the shape of the hair of a wig.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A wig dryer according to this invention has a base in which there are disposed a case containing a blower or fan and heater and a stack communicating with the heater. There is provided a first telescopic flue assembly capable of rotating upward or downward by being hinged at the joint of the case and stack. There is disposed a hood or helment at one end of said flue assembly, which not only permits communication between the stack and an air chamber formed in the hood, but also concurrently acts as a supporting member for the hood. The inner shall of the hood is perforated with a large number of apertures to conduct the air in said air chamber into the interior space of said inner shell.

To the stack is connected a second horizontal telescopic flue assembly, to the free end of which is fitted a wig supporting block having a hollow space or air chamber. Said block is bored with apertures for causing the hollow space to communicate with the outside of the block.

When the first flue assembly is rotated upward, it communicates with the stack to obstruct communication between the second flue assembly and stack,

thereby causing air heated by the heater to pass through the stack and first flue assembly into the air chamber of the hood, then through the apertures into the interior space in the inner shell thereof to contact the hair of a wig placed in said interior space, thereby setting the shape of the hair.

When the first flue assembly is thrown downward, it is shut off from communication with the stack, allowing the second flue assembly to be connected to the stack. Accordingly, air heated by the heater is carried through the stack and second flue assembly into the hollow space of the wig supporting block and drawn outside of the block through the apertures formed therein, thereby drying a wet wig placed on said block from inside.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of a wig dryer according to an embodiment of this invention when used to dry 21 washed wig;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of said wig dryer when used to set the shape of the hair of a wig;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional side view of FIG. 1; FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional side view of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the arrangement of the flues of the wig dryer of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a front sectional view of a wig supporting block according to this invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the parts of said wig dryer so arranged as to be received therein;

FIG. 8 is a front sectional view of the parts received as shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional side view of a wig dryer according to another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a front sectional view of another type of a wig supporting block used in the wig dryer of the invention;

FIG. 11 is a detailed view of the top section of the wig supporting block of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view on line 12-12 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a horizontal sectional view of another type of horizontal flue assembly according to the invention;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view illustrating the manner in which there is fitted a leg member to the wig dryer of the invention;

FIG. 16 is a horizontal sectional view of still another type of horizzontal flue assembly according to the invention; and

FIG. 17 is a longitudinal sectional view of FIG. 16.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Throughout FIGS. 1 to 4, 7 and 8, numeral 10 represents a base, which is comprised, as shown in FIG. 3, of a hollow cylindrical case or blower-heater unit 11 made of plastic material and open at the bottom; a heater 12 disposed on the side wall of said case; an up right stack 13 communicating with the heater 12; and a bottom plate 14 for covering the lower end of the base 10 including those of the case 11 and stack 13. The interior of the hollow case 11 is divided into upper and lower compartments 16 and 17 by a partition wall 15. In the upper compartment 16 is fixed an electric motor 20 whose shaft 18 passes through an air inlet 19 bored in the partition wall 15 into the lower compartment 17. To the lower end of the shaft 18 is coaxially fitted a fan or blower 21. In the blind upper end portion of the case 11 is disposed an inverted channel portion 22 in amanner to have its central line cross the central axis of the case 11. That part of said inverted channel portion 22 which is located right above the electric motor 20 is perforated with a plurality of air inlets 23. The heater 12 communicates with the lower compartment I7 and the stack 13.

A telescopic flue assembly 24 is comprised of a flue 25 defined by four walls 25a, 25b, 25c and 25d to present a square cross section and another flue 26, one end of which is slidably inserted into the firstmentioned flue 25. The sliding of the flue 26 into or out of the flue 25 enables the length of the flue assembly 24 to be freely adjusted.

Numeral 27 denotes a dome-shaped hood or helmet, which has an outer shell 28 and a cup-shaped inner shell 29, that is, a double-wall construction. Between the outer and inner shells 28 and 29 is defined an air chamber 30. The inner shall 29 is perforated with a plurality of small apertures 31, through which the air chamber 30 communicates with the interior space 29a of the inner shell 29. Part of the lower edge of the hood 27 is connected to the free end of the flue 26 (that is, the end which is not inserted into the flue 25) so as to cause said flue 26 to communicate with the air chamber 30. At said connection is provided a hinge 32 so as to enable the flue assembly 24 to be covered with the hood 27 when it fully rotates from the position indicated in FIG. 3. As is apparent from FIGS. 2 and 4, the flue assembly 24 concurrently acts as a supporting member for the hood 27.

Another telescopic flue assembly 33 is defined by upper and lower walls 34a, 34c and both side walls 34b, 34d to present a square cross section, and horizontally extends from the top of the stack 13 to the outside of the base 10. This flue assembly 33 comprises of a flue 34 communicating at one end with the stack 13 and another flue 35 having one end slidably inserted into the other end of the first mentioned flue 34. The length of the flue assembly 33 can be freely adjusted by moving the flue 35 into or out of the flue 34.

Referring to FIG. 5, that part of the flue 34 which is disposed above the stack 13 and the adjacent part thereof are open to constitute a connection port 36 with the flue 25. The edges 34e of those portions of the side walls 34b and 34d of the flue 34 which form the aforesaid adjacent part are inclined. At the bottoms of said inclined edges 34e are formed a pair of mutually facing projections 38. Said projections 38 engage the upper edge of the stack 13 which inturn receives the free end of the wall 250 of the flue 25, thereby enabling the flue assembly 24 as a whole to abut against and rotate about the top portions of said'projections 38. The free end of the wall 25c of the flue 25 is connected by a hinge 39 to that part of the upper wall of the case 11 which is disposed close to the stack 13. When the flueassembly 24 is thrown down as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, it is directed opposite to the flue assembly 33 to be positioned right above the inverted channel portion 22, with the hood 27 substantially turned over on its back. From those ends ofthe side walls 34b and 34d of the flue 34 which face the stack 13 extends downward a fitting frame 40 (FIG. 2). When said fitting frame 40 engages both the inner wall of a flange 41 formed on upper end of the base and the outer side walls of the stack 13, the flue assembly 33 is fitted to the base 10. Numeral 42 (FIG. 3) represents a cover plate with a J- shaped longitudinal section. This cover plate 42 is pivoted to the free end of the upper wall 34a of the flue 34 to cover the connection port 36 (FIG. 2). The distance between'the outer surfaces of the side walls 25b and 25d of the flue 25 is made substantially equal to the distance between the inner surfaces of the side walls 34b and 34d of the flue 34. Accordingly, when the cover plate 42 is opened and the flue assembly 24 is rotated upward about the hinge 39, then the outer surfaces of the side walls 25b and 25d of the flue 25 abut against the inner surfaces of the side walls 34b and 34d of the flue 34 respectively. When the flue assembly 24 is thus made to stand upright, the wall 25a of the flue 25 is pressed, as shown in FIG. 4, against the free ends of the upper wall 34a and lower wall 34c of the flue 34, and the walls 25!; and 25d of the flue 25 contact the side walls 34b and 34d of the flue 34, thereby shutting of the flue assembly 33 from the stack 13. The free end of the flue 25 is cut aslant so as to cause the flue assembly 24 fully to communicate with the stack 13. When, therefore, the flue assembly 24 is rotated upward as shown in FIG. 4, it is slightly inclined toward the flue assembly 33.

To the underside of the free end 35c (which is notinserted into the flue 34) of the flue 35 is fitted a leg member 43 (FIG. 2) for supporting the flue 35. The leg member 43 consists, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, of a pair of U-shaped legs 43a pivoted to the underside of the free end 35a of the flue 35 and a connecting piece 43b bridged across the bottom sections of said legs 430.

While the free end 35e of the flue 35 is kept closed, the upper wall of said free end 35e has an outlet opening 44 provided with a hollow cylindrical flange 44a (FIG. 3). Numeral 45 is a connecting tube consisting of a broader section 45a and a narrower section 45b. This narrower section 45b extends downward to be rotatably inserted into said flange 44a.

Numeral 46 represents a wig supporting block prepared from plastic materials in the form of a human head so as to be covered with a wig 47 (FIGS. 1 and 2). The wig. supporting block 46 has a hollow interior space constituting an air chamber 48. That part of said supporting block 46 on which there is tobe placed the wig 47, that is, the head portion 46a of said block 46 is perforated with a plurality of apertures49. At the lower end of the supporting block 46 is formed a hollow cylindrical or neck portion 50, which extends downward to be inserted into the broader section 450 of the connecting tube 45.

On the front side of the wig supporting block 46 is formed a resemblance of a human face 51 bearing the eyes, eyebrows, nose and lips. The wig supporting block 46 is divided, as shown in FIG. 6, into two right and left symmetrical separable sections 52 and 53. When the joining edges 52a and 53a of both sections 52 and 53 are put together, they are engaged airtight with each other. Further as seen from FIG. 6, when the joining edges 52a and 53a are brought together, the hollow spaces 52b and 53b defined below said separable sections 52 and 53 constitute the air chamber 48.

When the flue assembly 24 is erected, the hood 27 is designed, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, to cover the wig supporting block 46 as far as the flue assemblies 24 and 33 can be adjusted in length. To the top wall of the hood 27 is fitted a handle 54 to facilitate the transportation of the wig dryer. Further on theouter surface of the lower part of the hood 27 are provided latch members 55 (FIG. 8) so as to join the hood 27 with the base 10.

There will now be described the operation of the wig dryer of this invention. Reference is first made to the case where a washed wigis dried. As shown in FIGS.

' l and 3, the flue assembly 24 is thrown down and the connection port 36 is shut with the cover plate 42. The flue assembly 33 is made to communicate with the lower compartment 17 of the case 11 through the heater 12. The washed wig 47 is properly placed on the head portion 46a of the wig supporting block 46. The electric motor 20 is driven and the heater is actuated. The drive of the motor 20 leads to the rotation of the fan 21, causing air to be carried from outside of the case 11 through the air inlets 23, upper compartment 16, and air inlet opening 19 in turn into the lower compartment l7, therefrom to the heater 12 to be heated. Heated air is conducted through the stack 13, flue assembly 33, outlet opening 44 formed at the free end of the flue 35, connecting tube 45 and neck portion 50 in turn finally into the air chamber 48 of the wig supportin g block 46. The heated air in the chamber 48 is drawn out of the supporting block 46 through the apertures 49, thereby drying the wig 47 from inside. Since the air which has absorbed water from the wig 47 runs outside of the wig 47, there is no possibility that the interior of the wig is considerably delayed in drying as when hot air is applied to the outside of the wig 47. As described above, the drying of the wig 47 starts from within, preventing wet air from retarding the drying of the wig 47 by being long detained therein. Accordingly, the wig 47 is dried uniformly and very quickly.

There will now be described the case where the wig 47 is set to a desired hair style. The wig 47 is properly placed on the supporting block 46 to have its hair set using-hairsetting implements, for example, hair curlers (not shown). The flue assemblies 24 and 33 are adjusted in length and the flue assembly 24 is fully erected by opening the cover plate 42, causing the hood 27 to be placed on the head portion 46a of the supporting block 46. After the flue assembly 24 is set upright, the position of the supporting block 46 may be changed by adjusting the lengths of the flue assemblies 24 and 33. When, under such condition, the electric motor and heater 12 are operated, air is introduced through the inlets 23 as when the flue assembly 24 is thrown down and, after being heated by the heater 12, conducted to the stack 13, then through the flue assembly 24, the air chamber 30 and apertures 31 of the hood 27 in turn into the interior space 29a of the hood 27, so as to be uniformly applied to the wig 47 placed on the supporting block 46. The speed and temperature at which hot air is blown to the wig 47 are so chosen as to set the hair soft. When the flue assembly 24 stands upright, communication between the stack 13 and flue assembly 33 is obstructed by the wall 250 of the flue 25, preventing hot air from being carried through the stack 13 into the air chamber 48 of the wig supporting block 46.

When there are removed the flue assembly 33 and wig supporting block 46, the wig dryer of this invention may be used as an ordinary hair dryer.

There will now be described by reference to FIGS. 7 and 8 the sequential steps of housing the parts of the wig dryer of this invention. First the flue assembly 24 is thrown down together with the hood 27 and the flue assembly 33 is taken out of the wig dryer. From said flue assembly 33 are removed the wig supporting block 46, connecting tube 45 and Ieg member 43. As shown 7 in FIG. 7, the connecting piece 435 is drawn out from one side of the legs 43a. After being folded, the leg member 43 is received in the stack 13. The flue assembly 24 is placed on the inverted channel portion 22 of the case 11 after the flue 26 is inserted inmost into the flue 25, and the flue assembly 33 is placed on the flue assembly 24 after the flue 35 is inserted inmost into the flue 34. The connecting tube 45 is put on the flue assembly 33. The wig supporting block 46 is separated into two sections 52 and 53, which are set on the right and left sides of that part of the upper surface of the base 10 where the flue assemblies 24 and 33 are superposed on each other, with the interior spaces 52b and 53b so disposed as to face each other across the superposed flue assemblies 24 and 33 and the face portions 51 turned upward. Last the hood 27 is closed by being rotated about the hinge 32 (FIG. 3), thereby housing the aforementioned parts in an interspace between the hood 27 and base 10, followed by locking with the latch members 55. Accordingly, the parts of the wig dryer of this invention can be gathered in a very compact form. Further, the handle 54 provided at the top of the hood 27 offers great convenience in carrying the wig dryer.

FIGS. 9 to 15 relate to a wig dryer according to another embodiment of this invention. The parts of this embodiment are all denoted by numbers of the one hundred order. Particularly the parts corresponding to those of FIGS. 1 to 8 are designated by the common numbers of the last two places and, if required, the common sufflxed letters to those used with the preceding embodiment. Unless there is noted a prominent difference,.description of the parts of the latter embodiment is omitted.

When the washed wig 147 is placed on the supporting block 146, the water held in the wig tends to drip into the air chamber 148 of said block 146, further through the outlet opening 144, flue assembly 133 and stack 113 in turn finally into the heater 112 and lower compartment 117, sometimes resulting in the failure of the wig dryer.

To avoid such occurrence, the flue assembly 133 is inclined through an angle a (FIG. 9) to a horizontal plane 170.l so as to cause that part of said assembly 133 which is fitted with the leg member 143 to be brought downward. Therefore, even when the water held in the wig 146 drips into the air chamber 148, it is collected at the bottom a 'of the free end 135e of the flue 135 and prevented from running toward the stack 113. Generally, the amount of water introduced into the air chamber 148 is extremely small, and moreover the water is evaporated by hot air flowing through the flue assembly 133, and little settles at the bottom 135a of the flue 135. Therefore, the aforesaid angle of inclination a will well serve the purpose if it amounts to 1 to 2. To remove the water dripping from the wig 147 to the bottom 135a of the flue 135, the free end of said bottom 1350 may be perforated with a hole 13511. In this case it is advised to place right below said hole 135b a pan 156 for receiving the removed water. Further it is possible to dispose a doughnut-shaped pan 165 around the neck portion 150 of the wig supporting block 146 to collect the water dripping from the wig 147.

The wig supporting block 146 comprises, as shown in FIG. 10, latticed half sections 152 and 153. When the supporting block 146 is to be used, said half sections are united by means of joining edges 152a and 1530. On the inner wall of the lower part of the joining edge 153a are formed lugs 150v which are pressed against the inner wall of the joining edge l52a when said half sections 152 and 153 are put together. The lugs 1500 may, as shown in FIG. 12, be provided on the inner wall of the joining edge of that semicircular part 15% of the neck portion 150 which belongs to the half section 153 or on the inner wall of the lower part of the joining edge 152a including that semicircular part 150a of the neck portion 150 which belongs to the half section 152.

On the top surface of the joining edge 153a of the half section 153 of the wig supporting block 146 is formed an engagement strip 157 so as to extend outward at right angles to said joining edge 153a (FIG. 11). On the inner wall of the top of the opposite half section 152 are provided a pair of parallel guide ridges 158 so as to protrude at right angles to the joining edge 152a. When said guide strip 157 slides between the paired guide ridges 158, it engages an engagement hole 7 159 bored in the upper surface of the half section 152 close to the top of the joining edge 152a thereof. Accordingly, when both half sections 152 and 153 of the wig supporting block 146 are joined together at the lower part by means of the aforesaid lugs 1500 with the engagement strip 157 fitted into the engagement hole 159, then both half sections 152 and 153 are properly and tightly united to avoid any horizontal or vertical displacement.

Along the near-top part of ribs 152a and 1530 on which there are formed the joining edges 152a and 153a of the half sections 152 and 153 of the wig supporting block 146 are arranged pointed pawls or projections 160, which are designed to prevent the wig 147 from falling off the supporting block 146, while its hair is dried by a dryer or brushed by an operator.

Referring to FIG. 13, the flue 134 has a narrow portion 134f into which one end of the flue 135 is airtightly inserted. The interval between the side walls 134k and 134d of the flue 134 is larger than the interval between the side walls of said narrow portion 134f. The outer surfaces of the upper and lower walls of the flue 135 made flush with inner surfaces of the upper and lower walls of said narrow portion 134f. On the inner surface of the lower wall 1340 of the flue 134 are disposed a pair of holding members 161 so as to extend partly along the side walls 134b and 134d thereof. The inner surfaces of said paired holding members 161 act to guide the outer surfaces of the side walls of the flue 135 when it is inserted into the flue 134. The holding members 161 are bored with elongate narrow holes 161a open at those ends of said holding members 161 which face the stack 113, and also with broader holes l61b communicating with said narrow holes 161a at those ends of sai members 161 which face the flue 135.

Numeral 162 is a U-shaped rod. of elastic material such as steel. The free space L between the arm portions 162a of said rod 162 is slightly larger than the interval between the inner surfaces of the side walls of the stack 113. The rear-end portions of the arms 162a including the free ends 162b-thereof are inserted into the narrow holes 161a of the holding members 161. Thetips of the free ends 162b of the arms 162a are bent at right angles to said arms 162a' to be engaged with the stepped portions defined by the narrow holes 161a with the broader'holes 161b, thereby preventing the arms 1620 from coming off the holding members 161. The shape and length of said U-shaped rod 162 are chosen in such a manner that as shown in FIG. 9, when the flue 134 is brought to a prescribed position on the base 110, the midsection 162s of the U-shaped rod 162 is inserted between the inner surface 1220 of the upper wall of the inverted channel portion 122 which faces the stack 113 and the heater 1 12 so as to be pressed against said inner surface 122a. When, therefore, the U-shaped rod 162 is inserted through the stack 113 into an inter space defined between said inner surface 122a of the inverted channel portion 122 and the heater 112, and the flue 134 is brought to a prescribed position on the base 110, then the arms 162a of the U-shaped rod 162 are pressed against the inner surfaces of the side walls of the stack 113 and the midsection 1620 of said rod 162 abuts against the aforementioned inner surface 122a ofthe inverted channel portion 122, thus enabling the flue assembly 133 to be fixed to the base 110.

Referring now to FIG. 15, the leg member 143 is U- shaped. At the free ends of the legs 143a are integrally formed a pair of horizzontal parallel contact portions 143e, the ends of which are so bent as to face each other, thereby constituting engaging portions 143d. Reference notation 143e represents shoes of, for example, rubber fitted to the bottom ends of the legs 143a. On both edges of the underside of the free end of the flue 135 are formed recesses 135c perforated with holes 135d into which there are inserted the engaging portions 143d of the leg member 143. The walls of the recesses 1350 receive the contact portions 143c of said leg member 143. Accordingly, the leg member 143 can be fitted to the underside of the flue 135 in an upright position. When rotated counterclockwise from its upright position indicated in FIG. 9 about the engaging portions 143d, the leg member 143 can have its legs 143a folded substantially parallel with the flue assembly 133, thus offering great convenience in receiving said flue assembly 133 between the base and hood 127.

Referring to FIGS. 16 and 17, numeral 233 denotes a horizontal telescopic flue assembly according to another embodiment of this invention. Like the flue 134 of FIG. 13, the flue 234 includes the narrower portion 234f into which there slides the flue 235 and another broader portion, in which the inner surfaces of both side walls are spaced more apart than the distance between the outer surfaces of the side walls of said flue 235. Numeral 263 shows a pair of guide ridges form ed on the inner surface of the lower wall 234a of the fiue 234. Said guide ridges 263 extend partly along the side walls 234b and 234d of the flue 234. The inner surfaces of said paired guide ridges 263 guide the periphery of both side walls of the flue 235. In those end portions of the side walls of the flue 235 which face the flue 234 are formed windows 264. Accordingly, when the flue 235 is pushed into the flue 234, hot air in a hollow space A defined by the side walls 234b and 234d of the flue 234 with the corresponding side walls of the flue 235 is easily carried into said flue 235 through the windows 264 without being detailed in said hollow space A. Therefore, those portions of the flues 234 and 235 which define said hollow space A are prevented from being overheated due to excess amounts of hot 'air being therein. Consequently the flues 234 and 235 may be made of any material, provided it withstands the temperature of hot air under its normal flow, without the necessity of taking into account any possible thermal deformation due to overheating particularly in said hollow space A. A

The windows denoted by numeral 264 may be replaced by notches open to the inner ends of the side walls of the flue 235. Reference notation 235e represents pawls formed at the inner ends of the side walls of the flue 235. These pawls 235e engage depressions 263a provided in the inner surfaces of the guide ridges 263, thereby preventing the flue 235 from coming off the flue 234.

While the invention has'been illustrated and de- I scribed in detail with, reference to the disclosed embodiments, it will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the disclosed embodiments without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A wig dryer comprising:

a base;

means disposed in said base for taking in air from outside;

means received in said base for heating air;

a stack provided on said base,

a wig supporting block provided with a hollow head portion having an air chamber formed therein and a hollow cylindrical portion communicating with the air chamber;

a plurality of apertures perforated through the hollow head portion;

a flue assembly removably connected to the stack and substantially horizontally extending from the stack to the outside of the base;

a leg member provided on the free end of the flue assembly for supporting said flue assembly; and

an outlet opening provided on the free end of the flue assembly for causing the cylindrical portion of the wig supporting block to communicate with the stack and conducting the heated air from the base to the air chamber of the wig supporting block through the stack, the flue assembly and the cylindrical portion, whereby the heated air is directed from the air chamber to a wig on the head portion through the apertures.

2. The wig dryer of claim 1 further comprising projections provided on the hollow head portion of the wig supporting block for holding the wig in a prescribed position thereon.

3. The wig dryer of claim 1 further comprising a connecting tube rotatably inserted into the outlet opening of the flue assembly and receiving the cylindrical portion of the wig supporting block, whereby the wig on the wig supporting block can be horizontally rotated through any desired angle.

4. The wig dryer of claim 1 wherein said wig supporting block comprises a pair of vertically separable sections, and there is further provided a connecting tube inserted into said outlet opening for receiving said hollow cylindrical portion of said wig supporting block with said vertically separable sections joined together.

5. The wig dryer of claim 1 wherein said flue assembly is inclined through a slight angle to a horizontal plane with the free end of said flue assembly lowered, whereby water detained in the wig on the head portion is prevented from dripping therefrom into the base.

6. A wig dryer comprising:

a base;

means disposed in said base for outside;

means received in said base for heating air;

a stack erected on the base;

a wig supporting block provided with a hollow head taking in air from portion having an air chamber formed therein and.

a plurality of apertures for directing heated air from the air chamber to the outside thereof;

a rigid hollow hood having an opening for receiving the wig supporting block and a plurality of apertures for directing heated air from the interior of the hood to the wig supporting block;

first and second flue assemblies so connected to the base adjacent to the stack as to selectively communicate with the stack, the first flue assembly communicating with the hood for conducting heated air from the base to the hood through the stack, whereby heated air is blown over a wig put on the supporting block through the apertures of said hood, and the second flue assembly communicating with the supporting block for conducting heated air from the base to the air chamber through the stack, whereby heated air is directed from the air chamber to the wig put on said hollow head portion through the apertures thereof; and obstructing means disposed in the first flue assembly for obstructing communication between the stack and the second flue assembly when the first flue assembly is caused to communicate with the stack.

7. The wig dryer according to claim 6 wherein said obstructing means comprises a wall of said first flue assembly.

8. The wig dryer according to claim 6 wherein said first flue assembly comprises two first flues, one of which is slidable in a substantially vertical direction through the other first flue which is pivoted to said base adjacent to the stack, and said second flue assembly comprises two second flues, one of which is slidable in a substantially horizontal direction through the other second flue which is connected to the stack.

9. A wig dryer comprising:

a base;

means disposed in said base for taking in air from outside; I I

means received in said base for heating air;

a stack erected on said base;

a wig supporting block provided with a hollow head portion having an air chamber formed therein and a plurality of apertures for directing heated air from the air chamber to the outside thereof;

a rigid hollow hood having an opening for receiving the wig supporting block and a plurality of apertures for directing heated air from the interior of the hood to the wig supporting block;

a first flue assembly pivoted to said base adjacent to the stackfor enabling the hood to communicate with the stack so as to conduct heated air from the base to the hood when said first flue assembly is erected, whereby the heated air is blown over a wig put on the hollow head portion of the supporting block through the apertures of said hood;

a second flue assembly connected to said stack for enabling said supporting block to communicate with said stack so as to conduct heated air from the base to the air chamber, whereby the heated air is directed from the air chamber to the wig on said 'hollow head portion through the apertures thereof;

a connection port provided in said second flue assem bly for receiving said first flue assembly when saidv first flue assembly is erected; and

a cover plate provided on said second flue assembly and leading the heated air from the base to the second flue assembly but not to the first flue assembly when said cover plate covers said connection port, said cover plate leading the heated air from the base to the first flue assembly when said cover plate is opened.

10. A wig dryer a base;

means disposed in said outside;

means received in said base for heating air;

a stack erected on said base;

a wig supporting block provided with a hollow head portion having an air chamber formed therein and a plurality of apertures for directing heated air from said chamber to the outside thereof;

a rigid hollow hood having an opening for receiving said wig supporting block and a plurality of apercomprising:

base for taking in air from tures for directing heated air from the interior of said hood to said wig supporting block;

a first flue assembly pivoted to said base adjacent to said stack for enabling said hood to communicate with said stack so as to conduct heated air from said base to said hood when said first flue assembly is erected, whereby said heated air is blown over a wig put on said hollow head portion of said wig supporting block through said apertures of the hood;

a second flue assembly removably connected to said stack and wig supporting block for enabling said wig supporting block to communicate with said said wig dryer a self-contained portable unit.

i s n Y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE" ERTEFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3,757.429 Dated S p m 1 1 3 Inventor(s) Shouji SUMINO It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the heading of the patent, add the following priority data:

December 28, 1970 Japan .130109/70-.

Signed and'sealed this 25th day of December 1973.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETC IHER,JR. RENE D. TEGTMEYER Attesting Officer Acting Commissioner of Patents QRM PO-OSQ (10-69) I -pc 50316.}559 5 1,5. GOVERNMENT PFUN'HNG OFFICE! 1989 35-33l1 UNiTED STATES PATENT oFFICE- (JERTH ICATE OF CORRECTiON Patent No.3, 757 429 Dated September 1 1 1973 Inventor(s) Shouj i SUMINO it is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected. as shown below:

In the heading of the patent, add the following priority data;

-December 28, 1970 Japan ..130109/70-.

Signed and sealed this 25th day of December 1973.

(SEAL) Attest EDWARD MQFLETCHERJR. RENE D. TEGTMEYER Attesting Officer Acting Commissioner of Patents DRM Po-wso (10-69) USCOMWDC wwbpag A US. GOVERNMENT PIQINTQQG OFFICE I969 3 6-33.' W 

1. A wig dryer comprising: a base; means disposed in said base for taking in air from outside; means received in said base for heating air; a stack provided on said base; a wig supporting block provided with a hollow head portion having an air chamber formed therein and a hollow cylindrical portion communicating with the air chamber; a plurality of apertures perforated through the hollow head portion; a flue assembly removably connected to the stack and substantially horizontally extending from the stack to the outside of the base; a leg member provided on the free end of the flue assembly for supporting said flue assembly; and an outlet opening provided on the free end of the flue assembly for causing the cylindrical portion of the wig supporting block to communicate with the stack and conducting the heated air from the base to the air chamber of the wig supporting block through the stack, the flue assembly and the cylindrical portion, whereby the heated air is directed from the air chamber to a wig on the head portion through the apertures.
 2. The wig dryer of claim 1 further comprising projections provided on the hollow head portion of the wig supporting block for holding the wig in a prescribed position thereon.
 3. The wig dryer of claim 1 further comprising a connecting tube rotatably inserted into the outlet opening of the flue assembly and receiving the cylindrical portion of the wig supporting block, whereby the wig on the wig supporting block can be horizontally rotated through any desired angle.
 4. The wig dryer of claim 1 wherein said wig supporting block comprises a pair of vertically separable sections, and there is further provided a connecting tube inserted into said outlet opening for receiving said hollow cylindrical portion of said wig supporting block with said vertically separable sections joined together.
 5. The wig dryer of claim 1 wherein said flue assembly is inclined through a slight angle to a horizontal plane with the free end of said flue assembly lowered, whereby water detained in the wig on the head portion is prevented from dripping therefrom into the base.
 6. A wig dryer comprising: a base; means disposed in said base for taking in air from outside; means received in said base for heating air; a stack erected on tHe base; a wig supporting block provided with a hollow head portion having an air chamber formed therein and a plurality of apertures for directing heated air from the air chamber to the outside thereof; a rigid hollow hood having an opening for receiving the wig supporting block and a plurality of apertures for directing heated air from the interior of the hood to the wig supporting block; first and second flue assemblies so connected to the base adjacent to the stack as to selectively communicate with the stack, the first flue assembly communicating with the hood for conducting heated air from the base to the hood through the stack, whereby heated air is blown over a wig put on the supporting block through the apertures of said hood, and the second flue assembly communicating with the supporting block for conducting heated air from the base to the air chamber through the stack, whereby heated air is directed from the air chamber to the wig put on said hollow head portion through the apertures thereof; and obstructing means disposed in the first flue assembly for obstructing communication between the stack and the second flue assembly when the first flue assembly is caused to communicate with the stack.
 7. The wig dryer according to claim 6 wherein said obstructing means comprises a wall of said first flue assembly.
 8. The wig dryer according to claim 6 wherein said first flue assembly comprises two first flues, one of which is slidable in a substantially vertical direction through the other first flue which is pivoted to said base adjacent to the stack, and said second flue assembly comprises two second flues, one of which is slidable in a substantially horizontal direction through the other second flue which is connected to the stack.
 9. A wig dryer comprising: a base; means disposed in said base for taking in air from outside; means received in said base for heating air; a stack erected on said base; a wig supporting block provided with a hollow head portion having an air chamber formed therein and a plurality of apertures for directing heated air from the air chamber to the outside thereof; a rigid hollow hood having an opening for receiving the wig supporting block and a plurality of apertures for directing heated air from the interior of the hood to the wig supporting block; a first flue assembly pivoted to said base adjacent to the stack for enabling the hood to communicate with the stack so as to conduct heated air from the base to the hood when said first flue assembly is erected, whereby the heated air is blown over a wig put on the hollow head portion of the supporting block through the apertures of said hood; a second flue assembly connected to said stack for enabling said supporting block to communicate with said stack so as to conduct heated air from the base to the air chamber, whereby the heated air is directed from the air chamber to the wig on said hollow head portion through the apertures thereof; a connection port provided in said second flue assembly for receiving said first flue assembly when said first flue assembly is erected; and a cover plate provided on said second flue assembly and leading the heated air from the base to the second flue assembly but not to the first flue assembly when said cover plate covers said connection port, said cover plate leading the heated air from the base to the first flue assembly when said cover plate is opened.
 10. A wig dryer comprising: a base; means disposed in said base for taking in air from outside; means received in said base for heating air; a stack erected on said base; a wig supporting block provided with a hollow head portion having an air chamber formed therein and a plurality of apertures for directing heated air from said chamber to the outside thereof; a rigid hollow hood having an opening for receiving said wig supporting block and a plurality of apertures for directing heated air frOm the interior of said hood to said wig supporting block; a first flue assembly pivoted to said base adjacent to said stack for enabling said hood to communicate with said stack so as to conduct heated air from said base to said hood when said first flue assembly is erected, whereby said heated air is blown over a wig put on said hollow head portion of said wig supporting block through said apertures of the hood; a second flue assembly removably connected to said stack and wig supporting block for enabling said wig supporting block to communicate with said stack so as to conduct heated air from said base to said air chamber, whereby said heated air is directed from said air chamber to said wig on said hollow head portion through said apertures thereof; and said hood being adapted to be fixed to said base so as to house said air taking-in means, air heating means, stack, wig supporting block, first flue assembly and second flue assembly, thereby to make said wig dryer a self-contained portable unit. 